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I bike tour and use a Warbonnet Superfly. It is probably large enough to cover my hammock and bike, but I just leave my bike out in the rain.

Are you concerned rain will cause rusting or damage something? Do you ride in the rain?

P.S.

I too was concerned about leaving my bike in the rain overnight and considered various options for covering it. However, after considering that fact that I routinely ride in the rain, it occurred to me that overnight rain won't likely hurt anything, and I carry a small bottle of oil for my chain in case it needs oiling. Other than a leather seat, or a seat or handlebar grips that absorb water, there probably is not much to worry about. This is not to say one should leave their bike outside to the elements for long periods of time, but for a touring trip there is likely little damage done.

Here's a bike forum post that provides different points of view on, and different options for, nightly coverage for bicycles while touring:

The Superfly (or maybe the Old Man Mountain - they look like the same tarp, but I like the Superfly color more) looks like the way to go. I don't mind an extra six ounces for the doors, although if I'm backpacking it'd be a different story I think.

As for leaving the bike out, I realize I could and it wouldn't a be a big deal (aside from the Brooks saddle) but I don't like having to re-lube the chain all the time, and I figure being in the rain more than necessary can't possibly be a good thing. Of course, there will be days of riding in the rain non-stop, but still. But the main thing is I like getting onto a dry bike, and an overnight downpour could be fended off by having the bike under cover.

Kelty Noah 12x12. A bit heavy at 2.5 lb, but bomb proof. Rig it with a large porch for your bike. I usually use hiking poles and/or 5ft bamboo poles to make the porch. CAn easily be pitched asymmetrically, 4' one side and 8' the other side of the ridgeline with the standard tie outs. Fairly easy to add additional tie outs if that layout doesn't work for you.Maybe you can carry 5 ft poles on a bike? The tarp costs ca. $50, the bamboo poles 25 cents each. Good value IMO

Definitely this one. I have it and it's huge. 16 1/2 feet on the diagonal. 12 tie out points too. There is alot of setup options with this tarp. If you set it up square, you can rig it with doors too.

I want my bicycle to be visible on the road so it has reflectors and reflective tape all over it but I have get it under or behind something if I want to keep a low profile for the evening. I originally bought my tarp as a bike cover and for quick cover in the sun or in the rain while I set up my tent. Now that I'm going to leave the tent behind and the tarp is going to be used with a hammock, there should still be enough room underneath for the bike. (While I was still thinking of getting a HH; one of it's pluses was that I could use its' smaller tarp on the bike.)

Last edited by cardo; 08-17-2011 at 14:30.
Reason: Added link to tarp.

It costs about $30 shipped.
It has lots of tie outs, but you have to add two to make it work in the traditional winter hammock mode.
It weighs about 32 oz (I thinK)
For some reason it disappears and yo ucannot find it online until around October each year. I think this is about half the price of the Kelty.

The Chinook 12x9.5 is also a big tarp.
It costs about $30 shipped
It weighs about 32 oz
You do not need to add tie outs (Well you do if you dont want to use grommets, but its good to go out of the box)
It also disappears until around October.

I have both and like both. They are considered heavy by many people on this forum. But when I upgraded from a "blue" tarp I thought they were miracles of technology.

Chinnok also makes one which I have not seen which is circus tent size.
I think it is 12 x 14

It costs about $30 shipped.
It has lots of tie outs, but you have to add two to make it work in the traditional winter hammock mode.
It weighs about 32 oz (I thinK)
For some reason it disappears and yo ucannot find it online until around October each year. I think this is about half the price of the Kelty.

The Chinook 12x9.5 is also a big tarp.
It costs about $30 shipped
It weighs about 32 oz
You do not need to add tie outs (Well you do if you dont want to use grommets, but its good to go out of the box)
It also disappears until around October.

I have both and like both. They are considered heavy by many people on this forum. But when I upgraded from a "blue" tarp I thought they were miracles of technology.

Chinnok also makes one which I have not seen which is circus tent size.
I think it is 12 x 14

Why is that? It's so weird. I've been wanted to play around with one of these things but can never find them. For $30 though, I'm sure they sell quick.

Fronkey, I dont know, but if you search the web you will see various camping forums talking about these two tarps. If you pay attention to the dates of the threads they come in in the fall and then sell out quickly only to reappear the next fall. I think I placed an order for the GG tarp at Bargain Outfitters even though it was out of stock. I waited several months and then around October they were in stock and my order shipped. Same for the Chinook.